Art the Greeter

Saturday October 17th was a sad day for some of us, it was Art Lark’s last day at work. Art retired after his shift on Saturday and will be missed by all.

Art is better known as Art the Greeter and until last Saturday he worked at Disney’s Beach Club Resort welcoming all who came to visit. My first memory of Art is learning about him in a Samantha Brown ‘Great Resorts’ episode about the Beach Club. When I met him in real life, he was as nice if not nicer than on TV. My kids always loved hanging out with Art in the Lobby and the most special memory I have of Art is with my son. Jason loved to trade pins with Art and one morning Art didn’t trade with him; he gave him a special pin. It’s a Lilo & Stitch pin with an easel back. This was probably 6 years ago, yet Jason can point out that special pin in a heartbeat. He’s actually tried on each of our trips for the last 3 years to go see Art and show him that he still has the pin he gave him. Unfortunately, every time it was Art’s day off.

Art & I

I saw Art in June and told him this and that we’d be back in July to see him. We were even staying at the Beach Club Villas, so we figured we’d have lots of opportunities. When we checked in, no Art the Greeter at the door. Jason asked a CM when Art would be there and in a very unmagical way she told him that Art was out for the week at least. We later learned that Art was having a health issue, andour timing was just bad. Now that Art has retired, I’m not sure we’ll stay at the Beach Club anymore. It’s still a beautiful resort, but it’ll be missing the magic that has always made it special for us.

Art will be missed by all that have ever met him. I wish him well in his retirement and can only hope that he knows what an impact he has made on so many people.

For more about Art, an article on the Disney Parks Blog and a video interview with Lou Mongello on WDW Radio